Zombies

The first thing we need is to settle down is that zombies in most stories/books/movies/tv series are caused by either of these two reasons:

1. Some magical or paranormal act that rises the undead from their graves.
2. A virus/infection that turns the living into mindless and dangerous beings.

Zombies are typically attracted by human flesh and gather in hordes to hunt the surviving people. They don’t have any recollection of their previous lives. Their movement skills vary form source to source, sometimes you have slow and dumb zombies (The Walking Dead, Dawn of the Dead) and some others the zombies are enhanced humans with supernatural strength (World War Z, I Legend).

We can discuss this topic based on the following points:

1. Is a zombie apocalypse scientifically viable? Is it possible that this scenario can happen and that humanity is not prepared for an event like this? Zombies are always mindless, yet in every story they seem to be superior to military power and organised nations, and their outbreak completely disintegrates society into conflicting tribes that are uncapable of cooperating for the greater good.
2. Why do people like this type of stories? I have seen in some article and videos (which I have yet to find!) where authors discuss that we have a need of a “fresh start” for civilization, and the idea of a zombie apocalypse is attractive because it is nice to fantasise about ditching our boring lives and becoming the heroes of humanity!
3. Others?

1.  How viable is the attack?

• Real tips to survive a zombie apocalypse, sponsored by a video game but with good sources!
• Cornell University’s interactive model to design a zombie outbreak.
• A paper explaining mathematical modelling of a zombie infection outbreak!
• The Center of Disease Control in United States has launched a “zombie preparedness” site to teach people how to be prepared for bioterrorism through the zombie attack scenario.

2. Why we love post-apocalyptic scenarios?

• Article centred around “Snowpiercer” but applies to zombie movies as well.

3. Additional

• Countdown of best zombie movies.
• Zombieland’s survival rules.
• Theories of international politics and zombies.
• Article summarising some of the points in the book.